Traumatic stress and accelerated DNA methylation age: A meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Meta-analysis of observational cohort studies
PubMed 29452766 · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.007
What was done
Meta-analysis of regression coefficients from 9 cohorts contributing to the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD Epigenetics Workgroup (combined N = 2,186). The study assessed associations between accelerated DNA methylation age (cellular age exceeding chronological age) and trauma exposure, PTSD diagnosis, PTSD symptom severity, demographic variables, and immune cell proportions, as well as demographic moderation.
What was found
Childhood trauma exposure measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and lifetime PTSD severity showed statistically significant, small meta-analytic associations with accelerated DNA methylation age (p = 0.028 and p = 0.016, respectively). Sex, CD4+ T cell proportions, and natural killer cell proportions were also significantly associated with accelerated DNA methylation age (all ps < 0.02). PTSD diagnosis and lifetime trauma exposure were not significantly associated with advanced DNA methylation age, and demographic variables did not moderate trauma or PTSD associations.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis clarifies conflicting literature by demonstrating that cumulative PTSD symptom severity and childhood trauma, rather than binary PTSD diagnosis, correlate with accelerated biological aging, potentially mediated by immune cell subsets.
Limits
The abstract notes the significant associations were small but provides no effect sizes, standard errors, or confidence intervals. Causality cannot be determined from observational cohorts, and categorical PTSD diagnosis and general lifetime trauma were null.
Cited by
- supports Severe psychological stress such as childhood sexual abuse and PTSD has been shown in the literature to affect epigenetic age acceleration.